Reflections on Halloween Night Safari Visit

I made a visit to the Singapore Night Safari during the Halloween event recently, and it has surely given me some thoughts.

First off, the number of people there were astonishing. The queue almost turn me off and away. We queued for almost two hours for our tickets and tram ride, and that included having friends who were there early to queue for us!

Well I was there for the animals. I haven't been to Night Safari before. And a Halloween theme was a good excuse to gather people to go there. Though the people involved and the idea was not from me but my girlfriend. I had to wonder if these people were in for the Halloween scares or the animals.

And scares there were. Night Safari had some of their staff cosplay as many Disney characters in Halloween style. And many of them were really into their character. Well at least the female ones.

I'm probably biased, but I did not like the male characters. Sure they were out to scare people. And the people were likely there to be scared.

But you should not be scaring the kids. Those male characters were running around, scaring even the kids, by moving close up to them and give them a boo! Sure, it's in their job scope, but must they scare kids? Do they feel like almighty MAN doing that?

On the other hand, I wonder about the parents. They knew it was Halloween theme. Well even if they don't, should they not be heading home after discovering the Halloween theme? I saw many kids there crying. And that was before they went into night safari. They were still a long queue away from the ticketing counter!

Worse, there were cases of the parents wanting to take photo with the Halloween characters, along with the kids! Poor kids were crying as their parents held them up beside those characters.

Sure, the parents could have promise the kids about the visit. But if the situation was not right, should the parents not change their decision, even if the kids would cry and complain? I'm not sure which is worse: breaking a promise, or allowing your kids to possibly have nightmares for the next few days or weeks.